Naomi Osaka wins first qualifying match since 2018 after three-set battle

Naomi Osaka is just one win away from reaching the Cincinnati main draw after beating Anna Blinkova 6-2 2-6 6-2 in her first qualifying match at the US hard-court WTA 1000 tournament.

On Sunday, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka made her first qualifying appearance since 2018. And after a very strong start, Osaka’s level suddenly dropped, but she managed to regain it and eventually seal a final-round meeting with 82nd-ranked Ashlyn Krueger.

In case you haven’t read or heard, Osaka discovered her luggage and racquets were lost when she landed in Cincinnati. But after flying to X, the former world No. 1 was able to find them thanks to the help of United Airlines and didn’t have to withdraw from Cincinnati.

How Osaka beat Blinkova?

Osaka started the match in blazing fashion, winning the first five games before earning her third break of the set in the eighth game to seal the first set.

But after easily winning the first set, the former Japanese world number one lost serve twice in the second set and was not broken as Blinkova forced a decider.

Osaka let her break slip early in the third set. But she didn’t panic and still won the match in three sets after breaking Blinkova in the sixth and eighth games of the deciding set.

Osaka will now hope to also pass the Krueger test and try to do well in her last tournament before the US Open.

“Yeah, I mean, you know what, shoot for the stars, yeah (laughs). Unfortunately, I’ve always suffered from perfectionism and I doubt myself a lot, but I think going through this process and having some really tough losses, I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve learned that I really love this game and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get to where I think I deserve to be. I know there’s going to be a lot more tough losses, but hopefully I’ll be back in the top 10,” Osaka said earlier this week in Toronto.